AFI Nominates Ace Odisha Sprinter Dutee Chand For Arjuna Award

Bhubaneswar: The Athletic Federation of India (AFI) on Wednesday nominated ace female sprinter from Odisha Dutee Chand for the Arjuna Award.

The AFI panel is chaired by World Championship medallist Anju Bobby George.

Dutee, won won silver medal in the 2018 Asian Games, ended India’s 16-year wait for a medal in women’s 200m. She is is the fifth female athlete to bag an Asian Games medal after Mary D’Souza (bronze in 1951), Stephie D’Souza (silver in 1958) and PT Usha (silver in 1982, gold in 1986).

The panel also nominated 2018 Asian Games gold-medallists, triple jumper Arpinder Singh, and middle-distance specialist Manjit Singh.

AFI President Adille J Sumariwalla hoped that the Awards Selection Committee will give weightage to the fact that in the Jakarta Asian Games in 2018, athletics accounted for 20 of 70 medals and eight out of 16 gold won by Indian.